Magnetic selector for textile machines

ABSTRACT

JACKS, SINKERS, OR LIKE CONTROL ELEMENTS ARE SELECTIVELY MOVED BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION SLIDING ON A PERMANENTLY MAGNETIZED SLIDE SURFACE, AND A SECOND POSITION TO WHICH THE CONTROL ELEMENTS ARE MOVED BY SPRINGS WHEN A SELECTOR MAGNET IS ENERGIZED IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PROGRAM TO COUNTERACT THE MAGNETIC FORCE OF THE SLIDE SURFACE IN THE REGION OF A CUTOUT IN THE SAME.

Sept. 20, 1971 E. RIBLER 3,605,448

MAGNETIC SELECTOR FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed May 13, 1969 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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MAGNETIC SELECTOR FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed May 13, 1969 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 6110/ 91/360:

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MAGNETIC SELECTOR FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed May 13, 1969 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. 64/6 19/64 E7! "2/6 a Mr/ f /Cnflaw-ht Sept. 20, 1971 RlBLER 3,605,448

v MAGNETIC SELECTOR FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed May 13, 1969 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. an my Rune/z P 20, 1971 s. RIBLER 3,605,448

MAGNETIC SELECTOR FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed May 13, 1969 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 28 26 1 27 8 1L. y Fi .9

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I uennnc smzcwon FOR mam-11.12 uncnmms Filed llay 13, 1969 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR. 410; #4845! nit-ed States Patent Oflice Patented Sept. 20, 1971 3,605,448 MAGNETIC SELECTOR FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Erich Ribler, 22 Neue Str., 7832 Kenzingen, Germany Filed May 13, 1969, Ser. No. 824,126 Claims priority, application Germany, May 14, 1968, P 17 60 405.6 Int. Cl. D04b /72, 15/28 US. Cl. 66-154A 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Jacks, sinkers, or like control elements are selectively moved between a first position sliding on a permanently magnetized slide surface, and a second position to which the control elements are moved by springs when a selector magnet is energized in accordance with a program to counteract the magnetic force of the slide surface in the region of a cutout in the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to improve magnetic selector apparatus according to the prior art, and to provide a magnetic selector apparatus which is suitable for different textile machines, and may not only be used for selecting jacks of a knitting machine, but also for selecting sinkers in weaving machines which control warp threads in which arrangement a magnetic selector head reciprocates in a direction transverse to the row of sinkers. Another object of the invention is to provide a magnetic selector apparatus which permits the selecting of control elements during rotation of the textile machine in opposite direction, or reciprocation of a part of the textile machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very compact magnetic selector apparatus in which it is possible to stop the cam box of the machine in any position whereupon the operations can be continued by moving the cam box in the opposite direction.

In accordance with the invention, every jack or sinker is held in contact with a slide surface of a selector magnet irrespective of the direction of relative movement between the control elements and the selector magnet. A tensioning cam tensions a resilient means acting on each control element against the holding force of the selector magnet, but a cutout is provided in the proximity of which a selectively energizable selector pole can weaken the magnetic holding field so that the pretensioned resilient means turns the control element to another position. For example, if the control element is a jack, the butt of the jack is located in a cam track when the jack is magnetical- 1y attracted to the magnetized slide surface of the magnetic selector means, and moves out of the cam track when displaced by pretensioned resilient means upon energization of the selector magnet pole.

One embodiment of the invention comprises a carrier member; a series of control elements, such as jacks, supported on the carrier member for movement between first and second positions for difierently controlling operations of a textile machine; a series of resilient means, preferably U-shaped springs having one leg connected with the control elements, respectively, for biasing the same toward the second position; and magnetic selector means including permanently magnetized first pole shoe means having a magnetized slide surface for holding the control elements in the first position whereby the resilient means are tensioned during relative movement between the selector means and the carrier member with the control element and the resilient means. The slide surface of the first pole shoe means has a cutout, and the selector means include a selector magnet having a second pole shoe located outside of the cutout registering with the same in a direction transverse to the direction of relative movement between the selector means and the control elements. A winding on the second pole shoe is energizable in accordance with the program by electric pulses at a polarity for counteracting the magnetic force of the first pole shoe means so that the respective resilient means move selected control elements to the second position in which, for example, the jack is located outside of a cam track.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention tensioning cam means rise toward the selector means and have a highest portion in the region of the selector pole shoe means and of the cutout, and the tensioning cam means are engaged by the resilient means so that the same are tensioned in the selecting region and urge the correlated control elements to the second position.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the ap pended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, 'will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary schematic elevation illustrating the needle bed of a knitting machine provided with a magnetic selector apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a magnetic selector means according to the invention;

1 FIG. 4 is a front elevation, and FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a second embodiment of the magnetic selector means according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevational illustrating a selector apparatus applied to a knitting machine having jacks;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on lone VII-VII in FIG. 6 and including a diagrammatic showing of a jack cam track in a position turned an angle of FIG. '8 is a schematic elevation illustrating the selecting of jacks in the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 during relative movement of the machine parts in one direction;

FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 8 but illustrating the parts during movement in the opposite direction;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional elevation illustrating a modified apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line XI-XI in FIG. 10, and including a schematic view illustrating a jack cam track in a position turned 90;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are fragmentary schematic elevations illustrating operations of the embodiment of FIGS. 10* and 11 during relative movement of the parts in opposite directions;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional elevation illustrating a third embodiment of the invention; and

3 FIGS. 15 and 16 are fragmentary elevations illustrating operations of the embodiment of FIG. 14 during relative movement of the parts in opposite directions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a section of the needle bed 52 of a knitting machine. Needles 60 have butts 61 guided in a needle cam track 55 forming part of the cam box of the knitting machine. Each needle is operated by a jack 62 which has a butt 63 guided in a jack cam track 13 of the cam box. In the schematic representation of FIG. 1, the cam box with the several cams thereof is assumed to move relative to the needles in the direction of the arrow A. In accordance with a selection, needles were upwardly guided and are returned by a cam 64 acting on butts 61 to the needle cam track 55. Those jacks 62 whose butts 63 remain in the jack cam track 13 after a selection by the magnetic selector head 65, are guided by the cam portion 66 upward, and by the cam portion 67 again downward. As indicated by the lines 68 for a number of needles 60', the butts of the respective needles are shifted by the dis placed jacks into the rising section 69 of the needle cam, while the butts of the other needles remain in the straight horizontal section 70 of the needle cam track 55.

The selection of those jacks whose butts are to be pushed out of the jack cam track 13 by the operation of the magnetic selector head 65, takes place while the selector head passes the respective jack. FIG. 1 illustrates a construction of the magnetic selector head 65, which will be hereinafter explained in greater detail With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. Not only the needle cam track 55, the jack cam track 13, and the selector head 65, but also to deflecting cams 53 and 54 form part of the cam box, and have the purpose of deflecting the jack butts out of the leading section 71 of jack cam track 13 so that the respective needles are not raised in this section.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate an embodiment of the magnetic selector head 65 which is less complicated than the selector head illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, and also in FIG. 1. A permanent magnet 1 is secured between a pair of soft iron pole shoes 2 and 3 which are temporarily magnetizable. Pole shoe 2 carries a control magnet 4 consisting of laminated soft iron magnetizable sheets and having a rear part in contact with magnetizable pole shoe 2 over a large surface, and a control pole shoe 6 which is spaced a short distance from the magnetizable pole 2 and is parallel to the same. A winding or coil surrounds control pole shoe 6 and magnetizes the same, when energized. The control pole shoe 6 covers a cutout in the soft iron magnetizable pole shoe 2 and has an end face which forms together with the end faces of the magnetizable pole shoes 2 and 3, a continuous slide surface on which the respective armature surfaces of the jacks or other elements of a textile machine slide while being attracted by the permanent field of the permanent magnet 1, assuming that the winding 5 is not energized. During relative movement in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 1 with the jacks being held by the permanent magnetic field on the end faces of the magnetizable pole shoes 2 and 3, and the end face of control pole shoe 6 performs the function of the surface portion of the pole shoe 2 where the same is interrupted by the cutout 9 and serves as the second pole shoe located opposite and cooperating with a corresponding portion of the pole shoe 3.

When an impulse is transmitted to the winding 5 so that between the control pole shoe 6 and the portion of pole shoe 3 in the region of cutout 9 of pole shoe 2, a dynamic magnetic shield is created, the permanent field is attenuated so that a jack attracted by the permanent field, and which is resiliently biased toward the pole shoes, as will be explained hereinafter, is displaced to a released position no longer attracted by and guided along the end faces of the pole shoes. In this released and displaced position the butt of the respective displaced jack is pushed out of the jack cam track 13.

The particular advantage of the arrangement of the control pole shoe 6 displaced relative to the soft iron pole shoe 2 resides in that the control pole shoe 6, overlaying the cutout 9 in the soft iron pole shoe 2, is independent of the needle pitch or pitch of any other control elements so that its iron cross section can be freely selected as required by magnetic conditions so that unfavorable stray flux characteristics of the control pole shoe 6 can be avoided. Control pole shoe 6 only acts on the jack which is directly located at the cutout 9.

In accordance with the prior art the end face of a control pole, and adjacent end faces of auxiliary pole shoes form a continuous slide surface, with lateral slits between the control pole shoe and the holding pole shoe, and such slits are eliminated in the present invention. Furthermore, the avoidance of the slits permits the use of the entire Width of the control region even for very narrow pitch between the needles and jacks so that the duration of the energizing pulse can be increased even for very narrow pitch so that a greater reliability of the function is achieved. A further advantage is that the magnetic remanence and residual magnetism of the armature surface of the jacks caused by the engagement of the same by the pole shoe 2 is suppressed opposite the non-magnetic cutout 9 of pole shoe 2 in the controlled region, and does not exert a disturbing influence.

The soft iron holding pole shoes 2 and 3, the permanent magnet 1, the control pole 4, and a cover plate 8 are secured to each other by screws 7 which pass through corresponding slots 7 so that the relative positions of the parts connected by screws 7 can be easily adjusted.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the cutout 9 isobtained by dividing the soft iron pole shoe 2 into two halves 2' and 2" which define between each other the cutout 9. The width of cutout 9, which represents the control region, can be freely adjusted as desired.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate another embodiment of the magnetic selector head according to the invention. Like parts are indicated by the same reference numerals as were used in FIGS. 2 and 3. The permanent magnet 1 is disposed between the soft iron pole shoes 2 and 3', while the soft iron pole shoe 2 is magnetically connected with a control pole 4 having a narrow pole shoe 6 surrounded by winding 5 and registering with the cutout 9 in the soft iron pole shoe 2. Cutout 9 registers with another cutout 9 in pole shoe 3* under which a second control pole 4 with a pole shoe 6 and a winding 5 is arranged symmetrical to the control pole and pole shoe 4, 6. The energizing pulse flows through both windings 5 and 5, the direction of winding of the two coils 5 and 5 being selected so that the permanent magnetic field is superimposed by an opposite magnetic field so that the magnetic attracting and holding field is attenuated when the coils are energized so that a jack, resiliently biased toward the holding field, drops on to assume a displaced released position.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the magnetic selector head in cooperation with the lower portion of the needle bed. The jack of each needle 60 located in the lower region of the needle bed 52, is illustrated in an attracted position held by the magnetic selector head 65 in a lower position in which its butt 63' is located in a horizontal section of the jack cam track 13 An armature surface 14 of jack 62 abuts the magnetized slide surfaces of the magnetic selector head 65. Each jack 62 is biased by a pressure spring 16 into sliding contact with the respective slide surface of the magnetic selector head 65. A tensioning spring 17 acts on jack 62 opposite to spring 16. A pretensioning cam 18 is fixedly connected with the magnetic selector head 65 and is disposed below the same in the control region. One leg 71 of tensioning spring 17 is secured to jack 62, and the other leg 72 of the U-shaped tension spring 17 slides over the pretensioning cam 18.

When leg 72 is disposed at the central portion 73 of pretensioning cam 18, tension spring 17 is biased to its maximum tension.

If winding -5 receives an energizing control impulse at the moment of passage of the respective jack 62 past the control pole shoe 6, the magnetic holding field of pole shoes 2 and 3 is attenuated to such a degree that the respective jack is pushed into the displaced position 62' shown in FIG. 7 so that the butt 63 is moved out of the jack cam track 13 against the action of the pressure spring 16.

Connecting means 19 rigidly connects the cam box of the knitting machine with the magnetic selector head 65 by means 20, 21 and 22. A projecting ear 23 prevents a lateral displacement of spring 17. A fixed stop bar 24 limits the movement of jack 62 when the jack is not in engagement with the selector head 65.

In order to clarify the interconnection between the parts, the jack cam track 13 of FIG. 1, is shown in chain lines in FIG. 7 in a position turned 90. A pair of resilient cam extension parts 25 and 26 are also shown in chain lines in FIG. 7, and will be explained in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. For the sake of simplicity, only the lower soft iron pole shoe 3 of magnetic selector head 65 is schematically shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a selecting operation during movement of the cam box in the direction of the arrow X. The leg 72 of a spring 17 in the released position 62 of the respective jack is designated by reference numeral 27, While reference numeral 28 designates the leg 72 of a jack 62 which slides along the selector head 65. The respective jack butt 63 is in the position 29 in the rising cam track portion 66 of jack cam track portion '71 of jack cam track 13. During further movement of the cam box in the direction of the arrow X, the legs in the position 29 are downwardly guided by portion 66 of the jack cam to the position 30 so that all jacks 62 abut the slide surface 74 due to the force of springs 16, see also FIGS. 6 and 7. Legs 72 moving along the tension ing cam 18 are pressed into the'pretensioned position 32 against the magnetic holding force and the force of spring 16, so that they pass below the resilient cam extension part 26 and shortly lift the same so that legs 72 can pass between cam extension part 26 and the tensioning cam 18. If during the passage of a jack 62 in position 33 past the cutout 9 and the control pole shoe 6, a selector pulse is transmitted to the winding 5, the jack drops oif to the released position 33'. The armature surface 34 of the next adjacent jack also lies adjacent the pole shoe end face of the attenuating control pole shoe 6, but this jack does not drop off to the released position since the respective armature surface 34 is not located opposite the cutout 9, and is consequently held by the holding field of the soft iron pole shoes 2 and 3. It will be understood that the region in which control pole shoe 6 is effective can be designed depending on the width of cutout 9* without requiring any change of control pole shoe 6 and its winding in accordance with the pitch of the jacks.

In accordance with the present invention, it is also possible to provide adjusting means which vary the 'width of cutout 9 depending on the operating speed of the magnetic selector head 65. By such a regulation the result is obtained that the released armature surface of a jack cannot be attracted again by the following pole shoe 2 at high operational speeds due to the greater width of the cutout 9.

When movement in the direction of the arrow X is continued in FIG. 8, the pretension springs 17 remain on the surface of the cam extension part 25 until they reach the position 35. Consequently, all released jacks remain in the control and selection region in the displaced released position until the butt of the jack in position 36 is outside of the rising portion of the jack cam track 13. The guided leg 72 of spring 17 is then in the position 37. On the other hand, the jacks which were not released remain with the armature surfaces of the same in contact with the magnetic slide surface of magnetic selector head 65 until they are at the lower end of needle bed 52 in the position 38 where the jack is locked so that butt 63 cannot move out of the jack cam track 13.

FIG. 9 illustrates the operation of spring 17 during a movement of the cam box in the direction of the arrow y. The legs of springs 17 travel below the cam extension part 25 and resiliently raise the same, while, contrary to the conditions described with reference to FIG. 8, the cam extension part 26 holds the respective legs 72 of spring 17 in the tensioned position until position 39 is reached. It should be noted that the jack butts and the jack cam track 13 are not illustrated in FIG. 9 for the sake of simplicity. Furthermore, as in FIG. 7, the jack cam track 13 is shown in FIG. 8 in chain lines and turned The modified embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 is different from the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 inasmuch as instead of two opposing springs 16 and 17, only a single spring 17 is provided for biasing each jack. The tensioning cam 18 performs the same function as in the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the only difference being that due to the omission of spring 16, spring 17 is only pretensioned to oppose the holding force of the magnetic selector head since, when a control pulse is transmitted to the winding, the movement of the jack to the release position under the action of spring 17 is not opposed by spring 16. Consequently, the movement of the jack to the released displaced position takes place in a shorter time period which permits a reduction of the length of the selection region.

In order to reduce noise and wear, a dampening bar 41, see FIG. 10, is provided against which the upper end of the released jack 62 abuts. Any elastic material like synthetic or natural rubber can be used for the damping bar 41. The lower end portion 42 is increased in size in the embodiment of FIG. 10, and the circular end portion 42 is guided in a corresponding circular hearing so that a jack rocks about the pivot axis, and is not longitudinally displaced. A stern portion of the jack is narrowed above the pivot end portion 42 so that it does not obstruct the angular movement of the jack. When the jack is raised between the vertical parallel guide surfaces 43 and 44, it is exactly guided during a vertical working stroke.

In addition to the cam extension parts 25 and 26, the embodiment of FIG. 10 also provides cams 40 and 40' which return a released jack and its associated spring 17 to the position slidingly guided along the magnetized end faces of the pole shoes of the magnetic selector head 65. FIG. 11 illustrates the jack cam track 13 in chain lines, turned an angle of 90.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate operations of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. In contrast to the arrangement described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, two return cams 40 and 40' are associated with the tensioning cam 18. During movement of magnetic selector head 65 and the associated cam box portion in the direction of the arrow X, the return cam 40, leading in the direction of movement the tensioning cam 18, is passed by the guided legs. 72 of springs 17 along its lower surface so that the same first engage the returning section 41 of cam 40' until they arrive in the returned position 42 in which springs 17 urge the released jacks 62' to return to the magnetically attracted position 62 along the surface 74. The jack butt held in the position 46' is again pressed into the jack cam track 13 in the position 46 from the position located outside of jack cam track 13.

During further movement, the guided legs 72 reach section 47 of the return cam 40' which is substantially parallel to the rising section 31 of tensioning cam 18, and follow section 47 until reaching the position 48 in which the springs 17 are untensioned, and the respective jacks 62 engage with the armature surfaces the surface 74. The guided legs 72 are then engaged by section 31 of tensioning cam 18 and travel below the cam extension part 26 which is pivotally connected by hinge 50 to return cam 40' onto the upper surface of tensioning cam 18. Cam extension parts 25 and 26 are held by springs 51 in a position abutting cam 40', and are only raised when a leg of spring 17 moves through the position 48' under cam extension part 26, or through a corresponding position under carn extension part 25. In the position 49, legs are fully pretensioned in the region of control pole shoe 6. After the selection, some of the jacks are in the released position 62', and some of the jacks in the attracted position 62. The respective resilient legs 72 travel on top of the cam extension part 25 so that springs 17 are held in tensioned condition until the butts 63 of the released jacks can no longer engage the rising portion of jack cam track 13. In contrast to the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9, the cam extension parts of the embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13 are not resilient springs, but rigid arms biased by springs 51, but otherwise the function of the same corresponds to the function of the cam extension parts described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

A third embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 14 in which release and displacement of the jacks 62 is further accelerated by constantly acting on tension spring 116 which abuts a wall 120 so that every jack 62 is biased to turn about its journal end portion 118 to a released position, not shown. The force of springs .116 must be overcome by return cams acting on jacks 62 in the manner described with reference to FIGS. and 11 so that the jacks are returned to the attracted and held position. FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate the return cams 100 and 101 which perform not only the function of the return cams 40, 40, but also the function of the cam extension parts and 26. The cam 100, or 101, leading in the direction of movement of the cam box, shown in FIG. 15 by arrow x and in FIG. 16 by arrow y, controls with the bottom face 102 the legs 72 of springs 17, while the trailing return cam 101 or 100 guides the legs 72 with its upper surface. Cam surface 102 returns the jacks from the released position 62 to the magnetically attracted position 62 while the rising section 31 of tensioning cam 18 pretensions springs 17. After passage through the position 32 of maximum tension, the resilient legs 72 travel along the falling section 103 of the tensioning cam 18 to a partly released and untensioned position 104, whereupon they are tensioned by the rising section 105 of the trailing cam 101 to assume the position 35 so that the jack butts of the released jacks cannot engage the jack cam track 13.

The operation during movement of the cam box in the direction of the arrow y shown in FIG. 16 is analog to the operation described with reference to FIG. 15 for movement of the cam box in the direction of the arrow X.

The abutment wall 120 can be adjusted by adjusting means, not shown, so that the spring force of springs 1216 can be adjusted as required when the tensioning cam 18 is entirely omitted. In such an arrangement, a tensioning cam is only required for fine adjustment.

In order to avoid that the aperture faces of jacks 62 while rising in the rising part of jack cam track '13 in the position 57 abut the surface of jack cam track 13, the same is raised at 56, see FIG. 1, to be parallel to cam track 13 so that a space is formed into which the armature surfaces 14 can be raised.

In the above description of the embodiments of the invention, it was assumed that a jack remains attracted on the surface 74 when winding 5 is de-energized. However, it is also possible to continuously energize winding 5, and to de-energize winding 5 by a control pulse for a short time in which event the polarity of the winding must be reversed.

In the first case, when the winding is mainly deenergized, all jacks remain in the attracted position in which they are raised to a working position by the jack cam track. In the second case, when the winding is mainly energized, all jacks drop off from the attracted position and are not operated by the following cam track portions.

Disturbances due to soiling of the magnetized slide surface or of the armature faces of the jacks, can be reduced by rounding off the armature surface 14 of the jacks. The lower guide edge of the cam box, not illustrated, which is fixedly connected with the control magnet 4, affords a possibility for adjusting the control magnet relative the attracted position of the armature surfaces of the jacks over a narrow air gap. Since the magnetic overlap of the slide surface of the magnetic selector head with the high oblong contour of the armature faces can be modified within a wide range, a favorable possibility of a specific adaptation to very short control periods results.

In order to avoid an undesired shunting between the pole end faces of the magnetic selector head by worn off iron particles and the like, the space between the pole faces can be filled by non-magnetizable material having a favorable low friction coefiicient.

For the control of circular knitting machines, the guide surface and the control pole can be constructed as an annular ring. The one directional movement in accordance with the present invention, makes parts controlling a reciprocating movement superfluous.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other parts of selector arrangements for textile machines differing from the parts described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a magnetic selector head and cams for selecting jacks of a knitting machine for corresponding operation of needles, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Magnetic selector apparatus for a textile machine, comprising, in combination, a carrier member; a series of control elements supported on said carrier member for movement bet-ween first and second positions for differently controlling operations of said textile machine; a series of resilient means connected with said control elements, respectively, for biasing the same toward said second position; and magnetic selector means including permanently magnetized first pole shoe means having two pole shoes having elongated end faces extending in one direction, and forming a magnetized slide surface for holding said control elements in said first position whereby said resilient means are tensioned during relative movement between said selector means and said carrier member with said control elements and said resilient means in one direction, at least said slide surface of one of said pole shoes having a cutout, said selector means further including a selector magnet having second pole shoe means located outside of said cutout registering with the same in a direction transverse to said one direction and a winding on said second pole shoe means energizable in accordance with a program by electric pulses at a polarity for counteracting the magnetic force of said first pole shoe means so that said resilient means move selected control elements to said second position, said second pole shoe means including a selector pole shoe located adjacent said cutout and having an end face whose width in said one direction is greater than the width of said cutout, said width of said cutout corresponding to the spacing of said control elements in said one direction, and said control elements in said first position sliding on said end faces of said two pole shoes and on the end face of said selector pole shoe.

2. Magnetic selector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and comprising tensioning cam means rising toward said selector means and having a highest portion in the region of said selector pole shoe and cutout, said tensioning cam means being engaged by said resilient means for tensioning the same in said region whereby said resilient means move the respective correlated control elements to said second position when said selector pole shoe counteracts the magnetic attracting force of said first pole shoe means.

3. Magnetic selector apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tensioning cam means is symmetrical to said region in said one direction so that said resilient means are tensioned irrespective of the direction of said relative movement in said one direction.

4. Magnetic selector apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for holding non-selected control elements in said first position after passing said selector means during opposite relative movements in said one direction.

5. Magnetic selector apparatus for a textile machine, comprising, in combination, a carrier member; a series of jacks for controlling the needles of a knitting machine mounted on said carrier member for movement between first and second positions for differently controlling operations of said knitting machine; a series of resilient means connected with said jacks, respectively, for biasing the same toward said second position; magnetic selector means including permanently magnetized first pole shoe means having a magnetized slide surface for holding said jacks in said first position whereby said resilient means are tensioned during relative movement between said selector means and said carrier member with said jacks and said resilient means in one direction, said slide surface having a cutout, said selector means further including a selector magnet vhaving second pole shoe means located outside of said cutout registering with the same in a direction transverse to said one direction and a winding on said second pole shoe means energizable in accordance with a program by electric pulses at a polarity for counteracting the magnetic fonce of said first pole shoe means so that said resilient means move selected jacks to said second position; and a cam box having track means for the butts of said jacks, said jacks being angularly movable in said carrier member between said first and second positions under the control of said magnetic selector means and resilient means, and being also mounted in said carrier member for longitudinal movement under the control of said cam track means, each jack having an armature portion having a surface magnetically adhering said first pole shoe means during longitudinal movement and sliding on said second pole shoe means in said first position, the butt of each jack being located in said cam track means in said first position and outside of the same in said second position.

6. Magnetic selector apparatus for a textile machine, comprising, in combination, a carrier member; a series of control elements supported on said carrier member for movement between first and second positions for differently controlling operations of said textile machine; a series of resilient means connected with said control elements, respectively, for biasing the same toward said second position, said resilient means including a first spring secured to the respective control element; a second spring connected with each control element for biasing the same to move from said second position to said first position against the action of said first spring, the force of said second spring being less than the force of said first spring; and magnetic selector means including permanently magnetized first pole shoe means having a magnetized slide surface for holding said control elements in said first position whereby said resilient means are tensioned during relative movement between said selector means and said carrier member with said control elements and said resilient means in one direction, said slide surface having a cutout, said selector means further including a selector magnet having second pole shoe means located outside of said cutout registering with the same in a direction transverse to said one direction and a winding on said second pole shoe means energizable in accordance with a program by electric pulses at a polarity for counteracting the magnetic force of said first pole shoe means so that said resilient means move selected control elements to said second position.

7. Magnetic selector apparatus for a textile machine, comprising, in combination, a carrier member; a series of control elements supported on said carrier member for movement between first and second positions for different- 1y controlling operations of said textile machine; a series of resilient means connected with said control elements,

respectively, for biasing the same toward said second position; magnetic selector means including permanently magnetized first pole shoe means having a magnetized slide surface for holding said control elements in said first position whereby said resilient means are tensioned during relative movement between said selector means and said carrier member with said control elements and said resilient means in one direction, said slide surface having a cutout, said selector means further including a selector magnet having a second pole shoe means located outside of said cutout registering with the same in a direction transverse to said one direction and a winding on said second pole shoe means energizable in accordance With a program by electric pulses at a polarity for counteracting the magnetic force of said first pole shoe means so that said resilient means move selected control elements to said second position; tensioning cam means having rising faces rising from opposite sides in said one direction toward said selector means and having a highest portion in the region of said slide surface of said first pole shoe means, said tensioning cam means being engaged by said resilient means for tensioning the same during opposite relative movements in said one direction; and a pair of cam extensions extendnig in said one direction on opposite sides of said highest portion for extending the same in said one direction, said cam extensions being spring biased to be resiliently displaced by said resilient means moving from the rising face leading in said direction of relative movement to said highest portion from which said resilient means move to the respective other trailing cam extension and are held by the same in maximal tensioned condition.

8. Magnetic selector apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein each cam extension includes a spring having an end resiliently abutting said tensioning cam means at one end, and means supporting the other end thereof, said one end of each spring being resiliently raised by said resilient means moving from the respective rising face to said highest portion; each spring supporting said resilient means after passage of said highest portion.

9. Magnetic selector apparatus as claimed in claim 7, including guide cams on opposite sides of said tensioning cam means for guiding said resilient means toward said rising faces of said tensioning cam means and to a position in which said control elements are in said first position sliding on said slide surface before arriving at said second pole shoe means and before said tensioning cam means tensions said resilient means.

10. Magnetic selector apparatus for a textile machine, comprising, in combination, a carrier member; a series of control elements supported on said carrier member for movement between first and second positions for differently controlling operations of said textile machine; a series of resilient means connected with said control elements, respectively, for biasing the same toward said second position; magnetic selector means including permanently magnetized first pole shoe means having a magnetized slide surface for holding said control elements in said first position whereby said resilient means are tensioned during relative movement between said selector means and said carrier member with said control elements and said resilient means in one direction, said slide surface having a cutout, said selector means further including a selector magnet having second pole shoe means located outside of said cutout registering with the same in a direction transverse to said one direction and a winding on said second pole shoe means energizable in accordance with a program by electric pulses at a polarity for counteracting the magnetic force of said first pole shoe means so that said resilient means move selected control elements to said second position; tensioning cam means having rising faces rising from opposite sides in said one direction toward said selector means and having a highest portion in the region of said slide surface of said first pole shoe means, said tensioning cam means being engaged by said resilient means for tensioning the same during opposite relative movements in said one direction; and guide cams on opposite sides of said tensioning cam for guiding said resilient means toward said rising faces of said tensioning cam means and to a position in which said control elements are in said first position sliding on said slide surface before arriving at said second pole shoe means and before said tensioning cam means tensions said resilient means.

11. Magnetic selector apparatus as claimed in claim 10, comprising a pair of rigid cam extensions respectively mounted on said guide cams for angular movement and extending in said one direction on opposite sides of said highest portion, and springs connecting said cam extensions with said guide cams, respectively so that said cam extensions can be resiliently displaced by said resilient means moving from the rising face leading in said direction of relative movement to said highest portion.

12. Magnetic selector apparatus for a textile machine, comprising, in combination, a carrier member, a series of control elements supported on said carrier member for movement between first and second positions for differently controlling operations of said textile machine; a series of resilient means connected with said control elements, respectifully, for biasing the same toward said second position; magnetic selector means including permanently magnetized first pole shoe means having a magnetized slide surface for holding said control elements in said first position whereby said resilient means are tensioned during relative movement between said selector means and said carrier member with said control elements and said resilient means in one direction, said slide surface having a cutout, said selector means further including a selector magnet having second pole shoe means located outside of said cutout registering with the same in a direction transverse to said one direction and a Winding on said second pole shoe means energizable in accordance with a program by electric pulses at a polarity for counteracting the magnetic force of said first pole shoe means so that said resilient means move selected control elements to said second position; tensioning cam means having rising faces rising from opposite sides in said one direction toward said selector means and having a highest portion in the region of said slide surface of said first pole shoe means, said tensioning cam means being engaged by said resilient means for tensioning the same during opposite relative movements in said one direction; and wherein said resilient means are U-shaped springs having two legs, one of said legs being secured to the respective control element,

12 and the other leg being free and cooperating with said tensioning cam means. i

13. Magnetic selector apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first pole shoe means inculde two parallel plate-shaped first pole shoes having elongated end faces located in a common plane and extending in said one direction, said selector means comprising a permanent magnet located between said first pole shoes and spacing the same apart, wherein said first pole shoes have registering cutouts; wherein said second pole shoe means include two second pole shoes respectively located adjacent said cutouts on the sides of said first pole shoes remote from said permanent magnet, said second pole shoes having end faces located in said common plane so that control ele ments in said first position slide on said end faces of said first and second pole shoes.

14. Magnetic selector apparatus for a textile machine, comprising, in combination, a carrier member; a series of control elements supported on said carrier member for movement between first and second positions for differently controlling operations of said textile machine; a series of resilient means connected with said control elements, respectively, for biasing the same toward said second position; and magnetic selector means including permanently magnetized first pole shoe means having a magnetized slide surface for holding said control elements in said first position whereby said resilient means are tensioned during relative movement between said selector means and said carrier member with said control elements and said resilient means in one direction, saidslide surface having a cutout, said first pole shoe means including two parallel plate-shaped first pole shoes having registering cutouts and elongated end faces located in a common plane and extending in said one direction, said selector means comprising a permanent magnet located between said first pole shoes and spacing the same apart, said selector means further including a selector magnet having second pole shoe means located outside of said cutouts registering with the same in a direction transverse to said one direction and a winding on said second pole shoe means energizable in accordance with a program by electric pulses at a polarity for counteracting the magnetic force of said first pole shoe means so that said resilient means move selected control elements to said second position, said second pole shoe means including two second pole shoes respectively located adjacent said cutouts on the sides of said first pole shoes remote from said permanent magnet and having end faces located in said common plane so that control elements in said first position slide on said end faces of said first and second pole shoes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,292,393 12/1966 Ribler Q 6650 3,365,916 l/1968 Ribler et al 66--154X(A) 3,449,928 6/1969 Schmidt et al. 66-154X(A) 3,472,287 10/1969 Ribler 66-154X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,138,255 12/1968 Great Britain 66-50 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner 

